Laura Thornhill | March 11, 2022 | Updated on: February 26th, 2024
Learning how to play blackjack is easy with our guide for beginners. The aim is to have cards that amount to 21 without exceeding 21. Your hand has to be better than the dealer’s hand to win. Blackjack is a popular game because it uses both luck and strategy. A good blackjack player must know when to hit, double down, stand and split. Once you know how to play blackjack well, you can practice how to play for free or with real money at any of the top blackjack casinos we have listed below.
Wherever you play blackjack, at an online casino or at a land-based casino, the card game works the same. Below we outline how to play blackjack for beginners.
First, each player places a wager by placing casino chips on the table in their designated spot.
Then, the dealer gives each player and themselves a face-up card.
Another face-up card is added to each player, and the dealer gets a second hidden card.
Based on the dealer’s exposed card and the player’s hand, the player must decide what their next play is.
The players always make the first move.
Players can raise their bets at this point except if they have a hand of 21.
If the player has a hand value of 21, it’s an automatic win.
As the player, you can ask for another card (hit), keep the hand you have as is (stay).
There is no limit on how many times you can hit and get additional cards, however, once the hand exceeds 21 you go bust and lose the bet.
Where both player and dealer have equal value hands it’s a push and the player gets their bet back.
Blackjack Card Values
All face cards have a value of 10.
Aces can have a value of 1 or 11 depending on what suits the player’s hand.
For the dealer, the ace is equal to 1 if their hand is less than 16.
When the dealer’s hand is more than 16 the ace is valued at 11.
All other cards are the value of the numbers on the card.
The dealer is obligated to hit if their hand is less than 17.
If the dealer’s hand is valued at 17 or more then they must stay.
Online blackjack is an easy casino game. We are making it even easier by breaking blackjack instructions for beginners.
Hitting
hitting is requesting another card. When you play blackjack online for real money, you simply click on the hit option. At a casino table, you must signal by tapping on the table with two fingers (put your index finger and middle finger together and tap)
Staying
Staying is keeping the hand that you were originally dealt. At a blackjack table, move your hand above the table in a waving motion with the palm facing downwards.
Folding
Folding is giving up. When your hand is weak and you no longer wish to participate simply click on fold if you are playing online blackjack and say “Fold” at a blackjack table.
Splitting
When you separate your original pair of cards to form separate hands by requesting additional cards it is called splitting your hand. Aces can be split for limited times depending on the type of blackjack game.
Doubling Down
When you double down in blackjack you double your bet on the same hand and get an additional card. Only do this when you are confident in the hand that you have.
Splitting
Splitting means separating a hand made up of cards of identical value to create two new hands. An additional bet must be placed on the newly created hand.
Surrender
To surrender is to forfeit before the game is over before the dealer reveals their hand. This is done when players feel that they may have a losing hand. Blackjack games with the surrender option give players who surrender, half their wager back.
Insurance
Insurance is a side bet option at some blackjack tables. It allows automatic surrender for the player when the dealer’s hand has an ace face up.
How To Make Money Playing Blackjack Strategy
Blackjack is not just easy to play it also is a great game for players who want to win big. The very fact that players can choose what the value of their ace card is to suit their hand is a huge advantage. While that is a great part of the game, the best way to make money playing blackjack is by playing strategically. Know when to hit, split and on which hands to double down.
How to Play Blackjack FAQs
What are the basic rules of blackjack?
Bets are always placed first before cards are dealt.
The goal is to get a beat the de3aler by having a hand value equal to 21 or as close to 21 without exceeding 21.
A hand made up of an ace and a ten-value card is a blackjack and an automatic win.
If both the dealer and player have a blackjack it’s a push and players get their bets
How do you play blackjack for beginners?
New players should take note of the following these tips to help them play and win blackjack.
Beginners must remember to split aces and eights.
If the dealer’s exposed hand is 2 to 6 stand when the player hand is between 12 to 16, because the dealer cannot possibly beat your hand.
Double down on pairs of aces to pairs of 6 sixes
Is blackjack the same as 21?
Blackjack and 21 are the same, 21 is the value of the highest and best winning hand in blackjack games.
Is blackjack easy?
Blackjack is an easy game all you have to do is beat the dealer and get a hand value close to or equal to 21 without exceeding 21.
What does a soft 17 mean in blackjack?
Soft in blackjack means a hand made with an ace and another card where the ace takes on the value of 11, so a soft 17 is a hand of the value of 17 made up of an ace and a six.
How do you deal a hand in blackjack?
Each player gets a pair of cards including the dealer. Cards are dealt to each player one at a time.
Learning how to play blackjack is easy with our guide for beginners. The aim is to have cards that amount to 21 without exceeding 21. Your hand has to be better than the dealer’s hand to win. Blackjack is a popular game because it uses both luck and strategy. A good blackjack player must know when to hit, double down, stand and split. Once you know how to play blackjack well, you can practice how to play for free or with real money at any of the top blackjack casinos we have listed below.
